The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro
strongly condemned today’s attack on the Venezuelan National Assembly,
highlighting that attacks on democratic institutions are the very
essence of a dictatorship.

"The unconstitutional and illegal actions against the National Assembly that took place
this Wednesday directly serve the process of institutional weakening the country is suffering," he said.

During
the special meeting held today by the National Assembly to celebrate
the 206th anniversary of the country's Declaration of Independence,
groups of government paramilitaries, known as colectivos, armed with
sticks and pipes, some brandishing knives and firearms, broke into the
grounds of the legislature and violently attacked lawmakers and staff.
Workers, journalists and deputies were practically kidnapped by the
paramilitary groups associated with the regime.

Several members
of the National Assembly were injured, including Americo de Grazia, Nora
Bracho, Luis Carlos Padilla, Leonardo Renault, Armando Armas, Franco
Casella, Luis Stefanelli and Richard Blanco, some suffering deep
lacerations to the head and face.

Officials and journalists were
also beaten. Obviously, the Bolivarian National Guard, charged with
providing security for the legislative power, did not intervene to stop
the violence.

"Today should have been a time to reflect on the
history of the country and the bonds that unite the people of
Venezuela, instead the government has chosen yet again to use violence
to silence dissent and ordered a premeditated attack on the very
institution that is the symbol of democratic popular representation –
the Venezuelan National Assembly,” said
Almagro.

The OAS Secretary General added that
"when
the voice of the people is silenced with weapons and violence it is
because nothing remains of democracy. The use of terror against citizens
and institutions reveals a systematic repression the only purpose of
which is to ensure the government remains in power."

The leader of the hemispheric Organization said
"the
regime intends to establish the institutional violence of the state in a
dirty war against the people including one or more deaths per day, as
if it were the 'new normal'."

"The Inter-American and
international community must not accept this. This is not a question of
policy issues, but of non-negotiable values and principles. This
supposed 'new normal' should not be accepted by anyone," concluded
Secretary General Almagro.